Happy fiesta, Bohol!

Wake-uppers

Seen: Singer-actress Manilyn Reynes was spotted in Bohol for a vacation. At the Tagbilaran Airport, she was mobbed by fans. Police officer Melinda Mendez-Basalo said “Manilyn is our family's favorite singer and actress.” For baby boomers, Manilyn Reynes started out in showbiz at the tender age of ten. Thirty years later, she is still a regular face on television.

Seen: Also spotted in Bohol last week were Nonito “The Flash” Donaire Jr., former beauty queen Precious Lara Guigaman and husband Marco Alcaraz.

Scene: The 2nd Calamay Festival in Jagna town, the home of the original calamay.  The 29-feet replica of the famous calamay added fanfare to the celebration. Amiela Balaba, Jagna information officer, said that “Jagna’s calamay is delicious, tasty and world-class ang quality.”

***

One of the “white lies” we were told as children-and many believed until adulthood- is that Bohol province sinks about an inch during May, the merry month of fiestas here in Bohol province.

May 1, the mother of all fiestas, starts the month-long fiesta 

celebrations in Bohol province. Faithful can visit the 

St. Joseph Cathedral to see the sleeping image of St. Joseph.  

Leo Udtohan/Chronicle

Our folks told us that it is due to the thousands of Bol-anons who come home to attend the many town and barrio fiestas celebrated during the month.  In case you are in doubt,  you can check the Tagbilaran airport and piers to see the throngs of passengers and balikbayan arriving in Bohol.

It took several years for me to realize that my elders were right after all. All the "lies" that they told me are true. You know, true lies.

Well, today, in every sitio, barangay (village), town, somewhere, we are celebrating.

The fiesta celebration is not complete without the famous lechon (roasted pig), humba (stewed pork) and plenty of beer and tuba to match.

If you are adventurous enough, you can practically go round the whole province without any money and eat for free and experience the famous Boholano hospitality.

Everyone is welcome, no invitations required!

May 1 - Tagbilaran City (Saint Joseph the Worker)
May 4 – Alburquerque (Santa Monica)
May 4 – Mabini (Santa Monica)
May 4 – Sagbayan (San Agustin)
May 8 - San Miguel (Saint Michael)
May 10 - Calape (Saint Vincent Ferrer)
May 15 - Bilar  (Saint Isidore the Farmer)
May 15 - Trinidad (Saint Isidore)
May 15 - Tubigon (San Isidro Labrador)
May 19 - Candijay (Saint Joseph)
May 29 – Talibon (Blessed Trinity)

Last Saturday of May (Holy Trinity)- Talibon

P.S. Pakapin lang ning June He! He! He!

June 13- Sikatuna- (Saint Anthony de Padua)
June 15- Loay  (Holy Trinity)
June 24- Garcia-Hernandez (Saint John the Baptist)
June 29- Loboc (Saint Peter the Apostle)
June 30 –Inabanga (Saint Paul the Apostle)

***

Inday Sara Duterte arrives in Bohol

Despite storm of attacks, presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte's supporters here are unstoppable.

On Friday afternoon, hundreds of thousands of supporters and fans showed up during Duterte’s daughter’s sortie in Bohol.

Former Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte was here for the Bohol-leg of the nationwide caravan Biyaheng DU30.

Sara arrived in Tubigon town at around 4 p.m. where she was mobbed by fans and supporters.  Inday Sara’s team gave candies, fans, bawlers, stickers and t-shirts. They had quick stops at Calape and Loon towns.

Bohol welcomes Inday Sara Duterte. 

Contributed Photos. Winston Rabe/JP Maslog

At around 8 p.m., Sara met provincial senior board member Dionisio Balite, who is running for vice governor in the province, for a dinner.

She said all her visits were smooth sailing.

“Okay raman. So, far kaluoy sa Ginoo, okay tanan areas naadtuan (In God’s mercies, everything went smoothly),” she said.

But the Central Visayas, according to her, the supporters are warmth.

“Mas enthusiastic ang mga tawo. Mainiton ang pagdawat (People are enthusiastic. They welcomed us warmly),” she said.

Last week, Sara was a banner headline on TV and newspapers when Sen.  Antonio Trillanes IV, who himself a vice presidential candidate, accused Rodrigo Duterte of having P211 million in an account in a bank branch in Metro Manila in 2014.

Trillanes said Duterte did not declare the P211 million in his statement of assets and liabilities and net worth (SALN). Trillanes said from 2006 to 2015, Duterte held seven join accounts with his daughter Sara at the BPI branch on Julia Vargas Avenue in Pasig City, nine joint accounts at BPI-Edsa Greenhills branch and one joint account at Banco de Oro Unibank-1 in Davao City. 

Failure to declare an asset is a ground for an employee’s dismissal from government service

But Sara dared her father’s accuser, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, to file a case against them.

Police Officer Melinda Mendez-Balo 

with Manilyn Reynes. Contributed Photo

“Kung tinuod gyud nga naa siyay legitimate nga complaint sa gina-accuse niya, i-file niya sa court para makatubag ko og tarung (If it is true that what he is accusing us is a legitimate complaint, file it in court so I can answer properly),” she said.

 “It is clearly a black propaganda given the fact that Duterte is leading the survey with only a few days away from May 9,” said Duterte supporter JP Maslog.

The younger Duterte served as Davao City mayor from 2010 to 2013 when her father was vice mayor.

She also denied that she and her siblings had properties that they did not declare.

According to the Land Registration Authority, the Duterte children have 35 properties, 11 of which are under the mayor’s daughter’s name and four under her husband’s.

She said she had declared all of her properties in her statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN), adding most of her assets came from her parents after they separated.

“Pagbulag nila in 1998 gibalhin tanang properties sa among manag-igsuon kay maoy gi-require sa korte (When they separated in 1998, their properties were divided among us siblings because that was required by the court),” she said.

“Even sa balay sa akong mama supposedly iyaha, gusto sa kong mama ibutang sa akong pangalan para walay makailog nga lain (Even the house of my mother which was supposedly hers, my mama wanted to place it under my name so it would not be taken by others),” she added.

She said she did not have any idea of the properties owned by her brothers Paolo, now vice mayor, and Sebastian.

The accusations, she said, were just black propaganda orchestrated by her father’s detractors.

“Silang tanan. Kalaban. Of course, nag-dako ko sa pulitika and kana tanan part na siya sa isa ka election (They are all enemies. Of course, I grew up in politics and all of these were part of one election),” she said.

Welcome to the 2^nd Calamay Festival in Jagna town, Bohol. 

Leo Udtohan/Chronicle

“Mao nay gitawag nato nga black propaganda. In fact, naghinay-hinay siya gawas una pagbabae, mamatay tao. Karun, kana na jud (That is what we call black propaganda. These are slowly coming out. First was him being a womanizer and then a killer. And now this).”

She said her family was prepared for mudslinging and accusations because every election even in Davao, such issues would usually come out.

The younger Duterte thanked their supporters that despite the accusations, they remained loyal.

“Pasalamat ko sa ilaha, through thick and thin, naa sila. Sa kalisud naa sila (I am thankful to them. Through thick and thin, they are there with us. In difficulties, they are with us).

The Visayas, considered as a stronghold of administration presidential candidate Mar Roxas, may be slowly slipping away from Roxas’ grasp, according to his allies and party mates who are now supporting Sen. Grace Poe and Duterte. 

READ INQUIRER ON SARA DUTERTE'S VISIT TO BOHOL. 

*   *   *

Thanks for your letters, all will be answered. Comments welcome at leoudtohan@yahoo.com, follow leoudtohan at Twitter /Facebook.

Music, love on Earth Day

Wake-upper:

Scene: Motivational speaker and author Bo Sanchez at the 7^th year anniversary of the Feast Tagbilaran last Friday at the Bohol Cultural Center. Everyone was inspired and blessed.

*  * *

There are worlds within worlds... Everything in our world is connected by the delicate strands of the web of life, which is a balance between the forces of destruction and the magical forces of creation.- Magi Lune  to Crista (Fern Gully)

In Bohol, the rice bowl of Central Visayas, drought affects farmer significantly. Crops have already been ruined by withering heat which affected farmers in 27 towns of Bohol who are now at the mercy of erratic weather. In times of drought, there is often not enough water available for people to drink and bathe regularly. In Barangay Bantolinao in Antequera, west of Tagbilaran City, an ordinance was strictly enforce prohibiting people to bathe and wash their clothes in all springs and creeks in the barangay since drought dried up their water sources. Leo Udtohan/Chronicle

To my friends and I, Friday’s Earth Day was our celebration.

It was a night when my friends’ mixed bag of spirituality culminates in a wild night of music, art, nature, food and love.

Different Earth Day activities were held to show our general appreciation for the planet.

The Earth Day celebration was marked by the country’s signing of the Paris Agreement, a legally binding agreement forged  between United Nations member-countries held in Paris, France, in December last year, to reduce carbon emission and limit global temperature rise below 1.5 degrees Celsius.

In Tagbilaran City, members and supporters of the Bohol Nature Conservation Society (Bonaconso) gathered on Friday morning to celebrate Earth Day with a special ritual.

At night, a “Bohol Earth Day Concert” was held at the K of C promenade with Tadiyandi and multiawarded singer-songwriter Joey Ayala.  Ayala is a towering figure in the local music scene, his critically-acclaimed albums are inspired by Mother Nature and social concerns. As a musician and artist, he believed in the healing power of song, as well as the connection to the earth that it provided.

Singer-songwriter Joey Ayala who is known for his songs’

 relevance of subject matter – environment, society, values – 

celebrates Earth Day in Bohol province. Leo Udtohan/Chronicle

The Climate Change Primer of Bonaconso said that man’s disregard to God’s call to cultivate and take care of Earth, we are faced with the great havoc mostly inflicted by man’s activities which we call in this present age as “Climate Change” or “Global warming.”

Scientists agree that climate change is a real and urgent threat.

Pat Ruiz, president of Bonaconso, blamed the environmentally destructive projects that contributed to the effects of the El Niño, which is strongly being felt in various parts of the country.

The Earth Day Celebration was also significant as the province of Bohol is experiencing deepening drought due to El Niño.

The drought is aggravating the situation in the countryside. The farmers are reeling from the effects of the dry spell that is expected to last either late May or early June.

Bohol’s central ground and northern lowlands have fertile grounds and abundant water supply. It has 2,224 springs, 59 rivers and 200 creeks.

However, the springs and creeks as well as the four major dams-- Malinao Dam in Pilar town, Bayongan Dam in San Miguel town, Capayas Dam in Ubay town and Zamora Dam in Talibon town—in the province are drying up.

According to Larry Pamugas, assistant provincial agriculturist, 42 of the 47 towns in Bohol, were affected.

Pamugas said at least P388M worth of crops had been damaged by the drought in Bohol which had not experienced any downpour since January.

The drought did not just affect the farmlands but also the sources of drinking water of residents especially those in the mountain areas.

“We lack portable water. Other municipalities use firetrucks just to supply water in their respective barangays,” Pamugas said.

In the municipalities of Albur and Dauis, local officials ordered the towns' firetrucks to deliver water to some barangays where the water sources have dried up. Some residents would line up on the streets, bringing their empty gallons, waiting for the firetrucks to arrive.

Russel Villas, Sangguniang Bayan secretary and Information Officer of Antequera town, said surface water sources such as springs and ponds have dried up. The water level of their reservoir in Barangays Tabuan and Ubojan has also gone down due to the drought.

The municipality of Antequera has been placed under a state of calamity since March 21 when their water supply has dwindled, affecting all its 21 barangays and the farmlands.

Antequera officials bought water tanks that were used to ration potable drinking water to barangays.

Potable drinking water is a problem especially in Barangay Bantolinao since one third of its 1,226 residents depend on community pumps and deep wells.

Since water has become a precious commodity, the village has started to strictly implement a barangay ordinance that prohibits bathing in the water pump to limit the use of water to drinking.

A wooden signage posted in the area reads: “Ginadili ang pagkaligo dinhing dapita kay nagkainit ang panahon...P200 ag multa kung naay malego. Thank you (It is not allowed to bathe here due to the intense hot weather. A fine of P200 will be imposed on those who take a bath).”

Bantolinao Barangay Captain Conrada Pagod said the ordinance has been in existence since 2014 which bans bathing and washing in traditional water source such as tubod (creeks) in order not to pollute their water source.

First offense carries a penalty of P100, P200 for second offense and P300 for third offense.

“Dili na paliguan ang tubod karung panahuna sa among barangay. Sa tubod tigkuha og imnunon kay dili man tigpalit og bottled water kay mahal (Bathing in the creek is not allowed in our village especially now. We get our drinking water from the creeks because bottled water is expensive),”Pagod said.

Women from Bantolinao and other neighboring barangays have to walk at least 7 km to go to a nearest river in Barangay Can-umay to wash their clothes.

In some towns, women and children spend hours walking to and from existing pumps and wells just to provide water for their families.

Ruiz said reclamation projects will not only bring more environmental devastation, and more community displacements, and worsen the city’s vulnerabilities to climate change.

Bonaconso also emphasized on morality crisis. The youth today are taught they must change the world, not their souls. So, they change the world, and it becomes worse. Without moral absolutes to distinguish right from wrong, there is no real basis for ethics.

Bonaconso also said we have to redeem the entire created order for God by making all things right in the environment-ecologically, socially, morally and spiritually.

We are hopeful that the future generation will inherit a cleaner, healthier and a safer planet.

***

6,000 crowd for Roxas-Robredo rally

Ubay, Bohol – Presidential candidate Mar Roxas and his running-mate Rep. Leni Robredo, including some senatorial bets of the Daang Matuwid coalition, on Wednesday night campaigned in Bohol province, the bailiwick of the LP party.

Vice Presidential aspirant Rep. Leni Robredo 

celebrates her birthday in Bohol province (her birthday was

 actually celebrated yesterday) as she receives a birthday cake 

from LP-Bohol’s leaders Bohol Gov. Edgar Chatto 

and Rep. Rene Relampagos. Leo Udtohan/Chronicle

At least 3,000 people gathered here to show their support for the Roxas-Robredo tandem at the Ubay public market at around 6 p.m.

Ubay town, which has a registered voters of 40,803 and is located 113 km from capital city of Tagbilaran,  is considered the turf of incumbent 2nd district Congressman Aristotle “Aris” Aumentado of  Nationalist People’s Coalition  (NPC) who is supporting Vice President Jejomar Binay and Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

Roxas told the crowd that he would continue the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) if he will be elected president.

Robredo, who turned 52 yesterday, also received a birthday cake shaped like a slipper prepared for her by the local LP leaders.  The supporters sang for her the customary birthday song.

Asked what would be her birthday wish, she answered, “ano lang po, yung sa akin parati lang good health at tsaka safety ng pamilya.”

She also said she didn’t wish to win the May 9 elections.

“Sa akin po, hindi ko winiwish yun, kug anong ibibigay sa akin handa kong tatanggapin,” she said.

Robredo said she was overwhelmed and at the same time humbled after leading in the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) mobile survey commissioned by TV5 for the vice presidential aspirants.

“Merun pang 19 days, pero masaya tayo sa results ng pinakabagong survey dahil nangunguna tayo. Pero hindi siya dahilan para makapanti tayo. Mahigit 2 linggo at marami pang mangyayari. Kaya lalo pa nating sisipagan sa susunod na mga araw. Naniniwala tayo po tayo kasi hindi ito nagdedetermine ng election pero magandang basehan kung ano ang pulso ng tao at saan pa kami magtrabaho,” she said.

Robredo obtained 30 percent, three points ahead of Marcos who got 27 percent while Escudero got 25 percent.  Senators Alan Peter Cayetano, Antonio Trillanes IV and Gregorio Honasan II got 13, 3 and 1 percent, respectively.

After Ubay’s rally, the tandem proceeded to Pilar town, to attend another rally with an estimated crowd of 3,000 at Pilar municipal ground.

Pilar has 15,169 registered voters.

*   *   *

Thanks for your letters, all will be answered. Comments welcome at leoudtohan@yahoo.com, follow leoudtohan at Twitter /Facebook.

HNU now Bohol’s first solar-powered university

Wake-uppers:

Seen:  Spotted in Bohol last Friday was Gigi Caciuleanu, world famous choreographer, professor and contemporary dance innovator on cultural management, identity and Diasporas and the transformative power of dance. He is in Bohol to share his specific technique and his original style of contemporary dance during the Bansay sa Ting-init 2016’s 2^nd Bohol International Workshop. Gardy Labad is the project director.

Danicop Ticugan Spring in Loon town.  Leo Udtohan/Chronicle

Scene: We fell head over heels for places like Loon’s Danicop Ticugan Spring, one of the least-visited springs in Bohol.  It is accessible to hikers and visitors who want to beat the heat. You can indulge in the soothing coolness of the spring. The trees growing on cliffs and mountain slopes give the place a cool ambience to beat the summer heat. And the good thing: No entrance fee.

* * *

The Holy Name University (HNU) has joined the ranks of universities in the country adopting solar power harvesting technology as a way to bring down energy costs.

School officials on Friday assembled on the rooftop of the HNU’s fifth floor at Scanlon Building to inaugurate a solar photovoltaic power plant composed of 1,100 solar thin film panels provided by OrionGroup International Inc.

Some employees and guests check the 1,100 solar thin film panels provided by OrionGroup International Inc. on the rooftop of the Holy Name University (HNU) in Tagbilaran City, Bohol province.  HNU is the first academic institution to fully integrate solar power energy system in the province and the Visayas. 

 Leo Udtohan/Chronicle

Also present were former HNU president Fr. Florante Camacho, Dr. Christopher Bernido, chairman of HNU’s board of trustees, some deans, teachers and the media- Bohol’s Queen of All Media Ardy Araneta, Dave Albarado, Rey Chiu, Liz Butron and Angeline Valencia.

The solar power plant is capable of producing 100 kilowatts of electricity, said Engr. Rynor Jamandre, president of OrionGroup International Inc.  

Jamandre said solar power is the use of the sun’s energy. He said that concerns over pollution, environmental degradation and resource depletion have led to an increasing awareness of the importance of developing solar energy.

HNU (formerly the Divine World College of Tagbilaran), founded in 1947, is the first academic institution to fully integrate solar power energy system in Bohol and Visayas.

Jamandre also said that HNU’s solar power plant is the largest thin film solar installation in the country as of today.  He said most projects are using crystalline solar panel. The power production can be remotely monitored from an Android or iphone devices.

HNU president Fr. Francisco Estepa, SVD, said it would save the school roughly 20 to 25 percent of its monthly energy cost.

“We believe there’s other energy in the environment we could tap.  The solar energy is safer and cheaper. We really contribute to the cooling of the earth,” he said.

There are many advantages of solar power, said Jamandre.

“Of course, you save your energy bill every month; the roof will always be cooler because you have a cover of solar panels. And the most important is we save carbon emission. It’s very important because global warming is a reality. We are doing our part to make it happen one project at a time,” he said.

The solar power can be used for many years, said Jamandre.

With the project, HNU joined other Manila universities in the use of solar energy, namely La Consolacion College,  Manuel L. Quezon University,  St. Scholastica’s College and Mapua Institute of Technology.

***

BBM’s whirlwind visit to Bohol

While you and I were sleeping, Vice Presidentiable Sen. Ferdinand “BongBong” Marcos Jr. had a whirlwind visit to Bohol last Thursday to meet local officials and renew social ties.

His tandem, presidential aspirant Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago was not present.

Vice Presidentiable Sen. Ferdinand “BongBong” Marcos Jr. 

meet the members of the Bohol United Opposition (BUO)

 in Tagbilaran City.  Leo Udtohan/Chronicle

Marcos was to meet some members of the Bohol United Opposition (BUO). But before the program would start, the venue had power outage. 

He blamed the administration for sitting on the power supply problem in the country.

“Ang  experience ko sa kampanya saan ako pumunta may brown-out e. Yesterday, the day before yesterday ganyan din. Pinuputulan kami ng kuryente everywhere we go. I don’t know  kung ito’y  artificial or talagang..but there is really a big demand that cannot be supplied sa power sa Visayas including Mindanao,” Marcos told Bohol reporters.

He said the administration’s lack of foresight and planning has worsened power supply in Visayas and Mindanao.

“Luzon is beginning to feel it,” he said, “The problem is wala talagang ginawang plano kasi itong gobyiernong ito para sa infrastruktura  na kailangan natin kaya nagkaganito. They have been in power for 6 years they have not able to do anything. Matagal na naming winawarningan yun tungkol sa power supply pero wala naman silang ginagawa.  That’s why this is it. Ito, dedicated sa akin itong brown-out sa akin.”

He also said the government has to examine sources of energy.

“It is very difficult to re-open the power nuclear plant. We already sold the fuel already.  There’s no fuel anymore. If we are going to rehabilitate it to standard of today, sa laki ng gagastusin natin  we might need to put up a new one. But we have to examine the potential of nuclear, we need to examine alternative energies,  we need to examine the traditional sources of energy because we have to increase our power supply and we have to lower our cost of production.”

In other developing and developed countries, they are using nuclear because it is the cheapest to produce power, he added.

Bohol has no power supply based in the island and the existing power load is dependent on the power from the geothermal plant in Leyte. In 2013, the power supply was disrupted causing blackouts and water shortage when Leyte was hit by Typhoon Haiyan (local name Yolanda).  

Marcos spoke before at least 200 members, mostly mayors and vice-mayors, of BUO, a local political party organized by Bohol 2nd district Rep. Erico Aristotle Aumentado. 

BUO is also supporting presidential aspirant Vice Pres. Jejomar Binay. 

Prominent members of BUO who met Marcos were former Carmen Mayor Che Toribio-delos Reyes who is running for Bohol’s 3rd district representative against incumbent Rep. Art Yap and Loay Mayor Rosemarie Lim-Imboy who is running for governor against incumbent Gov. Edgar Chatto.

Marcos also told reporters that he met Vice Gov. Conching Lim.

“Magkilala na kasi kami. Siya ay dating member ng Blue Ladies,” he said.

“Blue Ladies” was Imelda Marcos’ gang or sort of ladies in waiting composed of the strong, high-profile women or the wives of the country’s top businessman and the Marcos cronies. They were the center of social life in the Marcos years. They were called Blue Ladies, after the color the campaigners of the late Ferdinand Marcos wore when he ran for reelection in 1969 (Sergio Osmeña ran against Marcos).

Marcos in his speech said that he was ready to serve the country.

He also said that it was not a problem whoever would win president since all presidentiables were his friends.

“Maraming nagtatanong eh, Mr Senator kapag ikaw nahalal  bilang Presidente, e hindi mo naging kasama o ka-partido ang Presidente mo, anong gagawin mo? Eh, ako Bakit naman? Tingnan natin ang listahan.  Si  Miriam, siya katandem ko, magkasama kami, magkasundo kami sa maraming bagay.  Si Jojo Binay, galing Norte, natural allies. Si Mayor Duterte, matagal ko nang kaibigan si Mayor Duterte, isa sa tagahanga  ng administrasyon ng aking ama, so magkasundo kami nun.  Si Mar Roxas, kaibigan ko rin. Bukod pa run, pinsan siya ng asawa ko..Araneta ang asawa ko. Madali kaming magtrabaho together.  Si Grace, kapatid ko, e walang problema," said Marcos who laughed on the last part about Poe. 

He continued, "Kaya sinasabi ko, kaya ako nalang ang best position na maging best president. Biro lang ha, kung minsan nagbibiro ng ganyan.“ 

Before he left the venue, he took a look of an old photograph showing his father, the late Pres. Ferdinand Marcos, who was with the late Gov. Erico Aumentado and former Pres. Carlos P. Garcia.

*   *   *

Thanks for your letters, all will be answered. Comments welcome at leoudtohan@yahoo.com, follow leoudtohan at Twitter /Facebook.

Duterte-Cayetano political rally in Bohol ‘phenomenal’

Phenomenal.

That’s how the local chapter of the Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino-Laban (PDP-Laban) described the political rally of presidentiable candidate and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and his running-mate Sen. Alan Cayetano, in Bohol province last Sunday, April 3.

Duterte and Cayetano were warmly welcomed by Boholanos as if they were Bohol’s favorite sons.

Supporters called the visit “redemption,” “Duterte festival,” and “Duterte phenomenon.”

In Ubay town, where Duterte and Cayetano arrived at past 3 p.m. on Sunday, a crowd of 10,000 greeted them at the town’s gymnasium.

A sea of people at the Duterte-Cayetano rally in Tagbilaran City, in Bohol province, last Sunday (April 3).  Presidentiable candidate Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte has drawn remarkable seas of humanity to many of his high-energy rallies in Ubay, Tagbilaran and Panglao towns. Leo Udtohan/Chronicle

Ubay, about 113 km from the capital city of Tagbilaran, has a voting population of 40, 803 and is the largest in Bohol’s second district.

At past 6 p.m., the tandem arrived at Tagbilaran City, about 113 km from Ubay, where their supporters waited for them.

Residents lined up the streets chanting “Duterte, Duterte,” as the mayor peeped through his car window waving and greeting the people.

The tandem paid a courtesy call to Bishop Leonardo Medroso of the Diocese of Tagbilaran. They also met priests and seminarians at the Priests Home in the Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary (IHMS) compound.  Duterte also visited lawyer Victor dela Serna, his mentor at San Beda College.

Roads around the Tagbilaran City Square were closed to traffic starting 2 p.m. An estimated crowd of 30,000 were already at the venue at around 3 p.m.  

Traffic flow was moderate and manageable, according to the Tagbilaran City Police Station. At least 20 policemen secured the premises, along with SWAT members.

At 6 p.m., the crowd swelled to 60,000, an event really unexpected since Bohol is touted as bailiwick of the Liberal Party (LP).

During the rally, actor Cesar Montano sang his own composition to show support for Duterte. The supporters were singing along with him for the last few lines.

Cayetano told the crowd that the Department of Tourism will be transferred to Cebu and a department of Fisheries will be created in Visayas. He also rallied to create more and better jobs and raise incomes to enjoy the benefits of a growing country.

 

In his speech, Duterte reiterated his vow to stop crime, illegal drugs and corruption in government within six months of his administration.

He cited illegal drugs as the root of all evil and warned druglords and their runners to watch out.

“Pagbantay mo kay pusilon mo nako (Be careful, I might shoot you),” Duterte said.  The crowd cheered.

Illegal drugs continue to hound the province despite numerous operations and significant accomplishments from law enforcement agencies.

He also pushed for federalism, not only to end the decades-long secession in Mindanao but to bring progress across the Philippines.

“What Duterte did, he just shook Bohol,” said Lito Alagadmo, 38. He said he attended the rally to support Duterte.

"He's a breeze of hope totally different from traditional politicians. He is focusing on solving the problems of our country that I think many Filipinos want to hear," said Hazel Panlita, 35, who attended the rally with her friends.

"I've been to several political rallies through the years and never I have seen enthusiasm as displayed here tonight," added Panlita.

Not everyone was a Duterte fan.

Lilia Yorong, 46, from barangay Bool, Tagbilaran City attended the rally.

“I’m not a Duterte fan. I support Liberal Party but I eventually like to hear more specifics on how Duterte would achieve his goals,” she said.

Often drawing laughs, loud applause and sustained cheers from the crowd, Duterte hasn't shied away from attacking his rivals, and he kept the heat on Sunday, criticizing Roxas, Poe and Binay, saying they had no specific plans of action on how to solve criminality, poverty and illegal drugs.

“I can talk about stopping corruption, I can talk about suppressing criminality. I can even kill the drug lords,” the tough-talking mayor said.

Duterte also proclaimed the official PDP-Laban provincial bets (Senior board member Dionisio Balite for vice governor, Donald Sevilla for board member of the first district of Bohol, et al) and local bets­ (Arlene Karaan and her slate in Tagbilaran City, et al).

The rally in Tagbilaran ended at 9:30 p.m. but Duterte and Cayetano proceeded to nearby Panglao town for another rally where at least 20,000 people were waiting for them.

Dr. Doloreich Dumaluan, PDP-Laban Deputy Secretary General for Visayas and PDP-Laban provincial chair, expressed confidence that Duterte and Cayetano will gather victory in the province in the May 9 presidential elections.

“We will promise 65 t0 70 per cent Boholano votes for Duterte and Cayetano,”  said Dumaluan, who is also running for mayor in Panglao town.

Bohol, touted to be a bailiwick of the ruling Liberal Party (LP), has a total number of 798, 768 registered voters.

"The enthusiasm is spreading like wildfire. People are supporting Duterte of their own volition because they believed he is the catalyst for real change,” he said.

He said the people find Duterte’s platform relevant.

“People are tired of our corrupt system. Besides the corrupt system, we see problems on poverty, drugs and criminality. And we don’t like anymore that our lives are being controlled by the Imperial Manila. If Poe, Roxas and Binay will win, it’s still the same. But Duterte is offering federalism, "he said.

"We want change. Duterte is a man of word. He will walk his talk. We saw him in Davao, we saw he is a principled man," he added.

He added another factor is that the Duterte’s grandmother from Saligumba clan was from Bohol.

Dumaluan said that PDP-Laban didn’t worry about Bohol as Liberal Party country with incumbent Gov. Edgar Chatto as the ruling party’s head.

Unperturbed, he said “No, the governor can’t control the people. It will be problem if they will be carried away by the people. The Boholanos know Duterte is a Boholano because his grandmother was from the Saligumba clan. The Boholanos would feel for fellow Boholano,” he said.

Dumaluan also urged his party mates all over the province to consolidate and solidify its forces behind Duterte and Cayetano.

He said there were candidates who obtained their certificates of nomination and acceptance (Cona) from PDP-Laban including Loay Mayor Rosemarie Lim-Imboy who is running for Bohol governor against Chatto and former Carmen Mayor Conchita Toribio-delos Reyes who is running for representative in third district of Bohol against Rep. Art Yap, dumped Duterte in favor of United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) standard bearer Vice-President Jejomar Binay.

At least 20,000 supporters, wearing blue and red shirts with Duterte’s face and name on it, have gathered at the Panglao gymnasium as early as 4 p.m.

*   *   *

Thanks for your letters, all will be answered. Comments welcome at leoudtohan@yahoo.com, follow leoudtohan at Twitter /Facebook.

Cold springs and cave pools to beat the heat on scorching Bohol days

With skyrocketing temperatures, high humidity and a scorching sun, it can feel like you want to cool down immediately.  

But whether you’re in search of ice, water or simply super-strong air-conditioning to escape the heat, VRS can find you dozens of cascades, natural springs and parks around town to discover the places for us to beat the heat.

Fall in love with these natural springs just a few hours away from the city.

Note: The photos on this page that you’re marvelling at are the natural cold springs in Bohol I have had visited this summer.

Duwangon Spring in Bilar 

Bilar- Often bypassed in favor of neighboring Carmen town, Bilar is blessed with springs and waterfalls. The Logarita Cold Spring is found inside the protected Rajah Sikatuna National Park. In Barangay Zamora, you can have a relaxing cold dip at the Duwangon Spring. It is known for its fresh, clean and cool water....the iciest cold spring in Bohol!   Entrance Fee: P10 (Logarita Cold Spring); P5 (Duwangon Spring)

Candijay- The Canawa Spring is mysterious yet another natural wonder. The water is crystal blue. Locals said that divers attempted to measure the depth of the water but they failed to reach the bottom of the spring. You can make a sidetrip to Can-umantad Falls, the tallest waterfalls in the province, and the Candabong rice terraces.  In barangay Cogtong, the Anahaw Spring offers a total health experience for the physical well-being of the old, not-so-old and the very young. The people of Cogtong wash their clothes and fetch water from this spring for drink.  It was lately discovered the spring has remarkable healing properties because of its high alkalinity and polarity. Entrance Fee: P10 (Canawa Spring); No entrance fee for Anahaw Spring

Logarita Spring, Bilar

Jagna- This town shimmers with beaches made of smooth white pebbles or smooth slate. It also offers cascades and natural springs.   The Lonoy Spring, about 5 kms from the town proper, offers a clear and cool spring. It’s the second iciest cold spring in Bohol!  According to residents, there were five natural springs which were sources for drinking water. Due to its abundant supply of water, residents called it “galanay” or “galonoy” (abundant). Barangay Lonoy is where the Battle of Lonoy took place in 1901. Entrance Fee: P10

Valencia- The town’s Badiang Spring continues to attract visitors with its underground freshwater spring.  The spring water is diverted to fill the two swimming pools. Entrance Fee: P20

Garcia-Hernandez- The Ughuban Spring, located in Barangay Cambuyo is totally an amazing place because of its natural view. It has a cauldron (kawa)-shaped body of cold water. The mahogany trees surrounding Ughuban gives it a more relaxing feel. Since there is no entrance fee, you will enjoy swimming to sawa. You can also visit Roxas Park in Barangay Calma, about 4.2 kms from the highway.  The resort has two standard sized swimming pools whose cool and fresh water continuously flows from a rock spring.  Entrance Fee: P30  (Roxas Pork)

Dimiao-  Take a dip in the small pool of Kuremo Spring  which is actually a catch basin for the very cold water that comes from the mountains. There is no entrance fee. Enjoyment guaranteed!

Baliaut Spring, Baclayon

Baclayon- A natural swimming pool along the highway on the shoreline where fresh cold water from its natural outlet blends with seawater making it a favorite spot for locals during a hot and sunny day to cool off. No entrance fee.

Lila-  You can also quench the summer heat at Tinugdan (Tinubdan) Spring. Soak in the refreshing cool waters of this cold spring, the third iciest cold spring in the province! There is no entrance fee so you can swim here to sawa. Tibubdan comes from the native word “tubod,” which means “spring” or “source of water.”  Since there is no entrance fee, there’s an overload of happiness for swimmers!

Clarin-  The Caluwasan Spring, about 4 kms from the highway, here is refreshing and cold.  The place is relaxing and full of life, however, plastics and other wastes are left at the sides of the spring. No entrance fee.

Loboc- This town is not only known for its majestic Loboc River, the river of life. It has also Loktub Spring in Barangay Gotozon. It is a natural swimming pool where fresh cold water from its natural outlet blends with the river during high tide. No entrance fee for unlimited happiness!

Lonoy Spring, Jagna

Antequera- This town is blessed with waterfalls and karst caves. The Inambacan Cave and Spring, about 2 kms from the town proper, is a haven for nature lovers. No entrance fee.

Loon- The Danicop Ticugan Spring is one of the least-visited springs in Bohol. You can indulge in the soothing coolness of the spring. The trees growing on cliffs and mountain slopes give the place a cool ambience to beat the summer heat. No entrance fee.

Cave pools are also getting popular for summer escapade.

Dauis- Visit the Hinagdanan Cave Pool. It is known for its natural underground swimming pool of very cool spring water. The stalagmites and stalactites added attraction to the chilly water. Entrance Fee: P50

Anda- The beach is just the beginning in Anda. It feels like a hidden oasis where people ca n enjoy and relax with its white sandy beaches and bright turquoise sea. Besides the seas, the town has many cave pools.  These natural freshwater springs that flows from caves into the sea are favorite swimming destinations for locals and visitors of this town. Try Cabugnaw cave pool, Kalorenzo, Banilad cave pool and Tigdao cave pool. Free entrance.  

*   *   *

Thanks for your letters, all will be answered. Comments welcome at leoudtohan@yahoo.com, follow leoudtohan at Twitter /Facebook.

Blessed Assurance!

Jesus lives! This is the day the Lord has made!

Today’s Homily centers on the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It assures us that God has accepted Christ’s sacrifice for our sins; it assures us that there is life after death; and it assures us that Christ is with us in the present and in the eternity future.

 

As we celebrate Easter Sunday, let us sing together Bill Gaither’s Because He Lives:

God sent His son, they called Him, Jesus;
He came to love, heal and forgive;
He lived and died to buy my pardon,
An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives!

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives, all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living,
Just because He lives!

How sweet to hold a newborn baby,
And feel the pride and joy he gives;
But greater still the calm assurance:
This child can face uncertain days because He Lives!

Now, let us sing Fanny Crosby’s Blessed Assurance:

Note: Blessed Assurance is one of my favorite hymns written by blind hymnist and Queen of Gospel Song Writers Fanny Crosby. It has touched my heart since my childhood days and even until now I hum this whenever I remember with my heart at peace. Indeed, God has given us a blessed assurance through Christ. 

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior, all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior, all the day long...

Perfect submission, perfect delight!
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angels descending bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

Perfect submission, all is at rest!
I in my Savior am happy and blest,
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

Let’s move on to the old Jerusalem, the birthplace of Easter!

Note: On this page are pictures at the village of the Compassionate God in Barangay Fatima, Inabanga town.

***

The Holy Week started with the celebration of the Palm Sunday to commemorate Christ’s passion and death by marking His triumphant entry to Jerusalem.

Several important events for the Christian faith were the Last Supper, the washing of the disciples’ feet, Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, the kiss of Judas, the Calvary, the death of Christ, Deposition and the Burial and Resurrection.

Inside the St. Joseph the Worker Cathedral in Tagbilaran City, a giant scaffolding rose right before the church’s interior.  It has reached to the ceiling of the dome which is being painted.

The painting is expected to finish on or before May 1, the city’s fiesta, church officials said.

The St. Joseph Cathedral the Worker Cathedral is one of the parishes founded by the Jesuit missionaries in 1595.

Although the bamboo scaffolding might be distracting during a worship service, it didn’t hinder hundreds of Boholano Catholics to attend Palm Sunday o Bendita sa Lukay.

Many brought palm fronds to church and re-enacted Christ’s entry to Jerusalem, waving the leaves at the priest as he made the entrance procession to the altar before the start of the Mass.

Bringing palm fronds, Florencia Dacaldacal, 72, was able to attend the 9 a.m. holy Mass officiated by Tagbilaran Bishop Leonardo Medroso of the Diocese of Tagbilaran.

In his Homily, Bishop Medroso reminded the Boholanos  to reflect on the sacrifices of Christ for our salvation and carry the cross of Christ.  He also reminded the people that Christ is the only hope amidst trials and failures in life.

“This Holy Week, we should be like Jesus. We should follow His cross. The Holy Week is also a perfect opportunity for us to be reunited with the Church,” said Bishop Medroso in local dialect.

After the Mass, the faithful waved their palm fronds as the priest blessed them with holy water.  In Catholic belief, the waving of palms symbolizes the discipleship and a sign of the faithful’s desire to follow Christ.

Outside the church, several vendors were selling palm fronds since Saturday night. They sold palm fronds at P10, P20, P30 and P100.

For cotton candy maker Vic Maamo, 64, Palm Sunday was an opportunity to earn a living.

He said he ordered 50 bonds of lukay (young coconut leaves) from Catigbian town, at least 33 km from Tagbilaran. He bought it for P25 per bond.

Maamo said he could earn as much as P5,000 in a day compared to selling cotton candy which earn him only P1,000 on Saturdays and Sundays in front of the church.

“God’s mercy helps my family. We can buy rice and viand. And there is a little left for us to buy clothes for the kids,” he said.

After the Mass, the churchgoers returned home and hanged their blessed palm fronds on their front doors or windows as a sign of welcoming Christ in their homes.

But Dacaldacal believes that hanging the palms can also ward off evil.

“It has power because it was blessed by a priest,” she said.

Other faithful observed that while the St. Joseph the Worker Cathedral has an ongoing painting, the Holy Week was also a perfect time to repainting the Christian faith. 

*   *   *

Thanks for your letters, all will be answered. Comments welcome at leoudtohan@yahoo.com, follow leoudtohan at Twitter /Facebook.